Bin collection chaos is just the start – we need to get serious about local recycling

I was out with the kids the other day, trying to explain why we can't just chuck everything in one bin. We'd just seen another lorry overflowing with bags, probably heading straight to landfill, and it felt like a joke. It’s frustrating when you’re trying to do your bit at home, separating paper from plastic, only to see it all mixed up again. It makes you wonder if it's even worth the effort, and that's a dangerous thought to have when we're facing environmental challenges.

My proposal is to create a national, standardised recycling scheme. This means one set of rules for what can and can't be recycled, no matter where you live. Councils should be mandated to provide clear, consistent information, and perhaps even a dedicated app, detailing exactly what goes in which bin.